Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 123, No. 197 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
August 16, 2014
Extortionist could face 10-year prison sentence Woman admits role in extortion of prominent Roswell businessman BY JEFF TUCKER RECORD STAFF WRITER
A Roswell woman faces a possible 10-year federal prison sentence in connection to a scheme to extort money from a prominent Roswell businessman with whom she had an affair. Stacy Renee Campbell, 30, was charged in August 2013 with conspiring to extort thousands of dollars from the Roswell victim. Federal authorities said
Campbell and her co-defendant, Steven Manuel White, 37, of Burkburnett, Texas, extorted money from the victim by sending text messages threatening to disclose the victim’s affair with Campbell. Campbell pleaded guilty Feb. 11 in federal court in Las Cruces to being an accessory after the fact. In her plea agreement, Campbell admitted making false statements to a detective of the Roswell Police
SATURDAY
www.rdrnews.com
Department. Specifically, Campbell admitted lying to the detective in order to prevent the detective from learning White’s identify. At sentencing, Campbell faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison. Her sentencing hearing in federal court has not yet been scheduled. White also pleaded guilty Feb. 11. He was charged with violating the Hobbs Act by extorting money by making threats of violence.
White was sentenced Thursday in federal court in Las Cruces to a year and a day in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. He also was ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution to the victim. Federal authorities said White directed the victim via threatening text messages to wire $2,000 from Roswell to the defendants in Wichita Falls, Texas. The extortion plan went awry when White attempt-
Runners get red, blue and yellow in the face
Campbell ed to extort another $2,000 from the victim, officials said. White threatened to tell the victim’s wife and send a blast email about the victim’s af fair with Campbell, if the victim did
White
not send another $2,000, court records stated.
White also threatened to forward text conversations
Illegal meeting nullifies city commission vote
See EXTORTIONIST, Page A3
Property owners appeal zoning denial
BY RANDAL SEYLER RECORD STAFF WRITER
The city Planning and Zoning Commissioners denied a zoning change request, but an illegal executive session by the commissioners nullified their decision, the Roswell City Council was told Thursday night. “I’m not pleased about what has happened,” said Mayor Dennis Kintigh. “This will be the third time the Planning and Zoning Commission meets on this matter.” The first time the matter came before the planning commission, there was inadequate notification given about the meeting, and the second time, the commissioners did not follow policy, Kintigh said. The property owners have appealed the decision. On July 31, the planning
Top: Rey Berrones Photo Right and bottom: Shawn Naranjo Photos
An estimated 400 runners race in Roswell's first color race on Friday evening. Runners ran through color burst stations on the course at Cielo Grande Recreation Area. The run ended at sunset with a color explosion and a glow dance party. Proceeds from the event benefit Adopt A Soldier. The two-race double header continues today with the mud obstacle course.
commissioners voted 7-0 to deny a request for a zone change from commercial C2 District to industrial I-1 or a special use for outside storage in a C-2 District. During the consideration of the matter, the planning commissioners went into closed session, City Attorney William Zarr said Friday. “There were two parts to the request,” Zarr said. “One request for a zone change and another request for a special usage. The commission voted to deny the rezoning alternative.” The commissioners went into a closed session to discuss the matter, which they are allowed to do as an adjudicative body, but they did not state subject matter of the closed session, and when they returned from
Police investigate possible homicide
See VOTE, Page A3
STAFF REPORT
Immigrants struggling to get licenses in Colorado
DENVER (AP) — Only about half of Colorado immigrants who have recently been allowed to get a driver’s license or identification card regardless of their legal status have managed to get documents during the first two weeks of a new law. Data from the Colorado Department of Revenue also show that nearly 10 percent of immigrants who make appointments for licenses or IDs are not showing up. Immigrant advocates who
have been monitoring the five offices around the state where the documents are being issued say applicants have encountered many challenges, including not having a manual in Spanish to study for the written driving test and being confused about what documentation to present.
The Revenue Department has worked on a Spanish manual and posted it on its website Friday. English is the only other language in which the manual is available.
HIGH 93 LOW 69
TODAY’S FORECAST
Colorado began issuing licenses or IDs to immigrants, regardless of whether they’re here illegally or have temporary legal status, starting Aug. 1. As of Thursday, there had been 1,550 appointments. Of those, 581 resulted in a driver’s license, and 234 resulted in a driving permit or ID card, according to the most recent data available released Friday. An additional 585 did not receive any documents. State officials say they’re still analyzing the data.
• RIKEY RAY REID • MILLICENT PURCELLA • TIMOTHY PAUL WILKINSON
“It’s either that certain documents aren’t being brought in, or that they’re not passing the written test,” said Barbara Brohl, the executive director of the Revenue Department, which oversees the Motor Vehicle Division offices. She said she hopes having a foreign-language manual will help immigrants pass the test, which can be taken in Spanish. Brohl said she’s heard from advocates for immiSee LICENSES, Page A3
TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE B4
Police are investigating a homicide after a Roswell woman was found dead in a residence on the 1400 block of East Alameda Street, according to a news release from the Roswell Police Department. Officers received a 911 call at about 8:46 a.m. on Friday and discovered the body of Adela Sanchez-Montoya, 43. Police are not releasing the cause of death until after the autopsy is completed, according to the news release. Police ask anyone with information on this case call the Roswell Police Department 624-6770 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-594-8477.
AP Photo
Immigrant and longtime resident in the United States Joel Acosta waits to be processed for his permanent driver's license, at a Department of Motor Vehicles office, in Denver, Friday, Aug. 1. Colorado began issuing driver's licenses and identification cards on Aug. 1, to immigrants who are in the country, regardless of legal immigration status. CLASSIFIEDS ..........B6 COMICS .................B5 ENTERTAINMENT .....A8 FINANCIAL ..............B3
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2
HOROSCOPES .........A8 LOTTERIES .............A2
OPINION .................A4
SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ..............A8